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I I I Council Meeting Minutes October 13, 1992 Page 5 Council Business. continuec;l City Planner Erny Mattila presented for consideration boulevard parking on 1 st Avenue NW between 6th St. and 7th St. NW, In 1978, Council took action to allow the vehicle parking on this boulevard, Since that time, Bethel College removed furniture from the Fountain Terrace Apartment Garage and now the garages are used for student parking; the parking lot was expanded to allow for 20 additional spaces; the only vehicle parking on the boulevard on a regular basis is the subject's recreational vehicle; and the subject alley has been paved and serves the southern two- thirds of the block. Mattila said the City was contacted regarding a recreational vehicle parked on the boulevard, Staff reviewed the situation and Council forwarded the issue for review by the Citizen Study Commission (CSC).'" Staff and the CSC recommends to Council that action be taken to prohibit the parking of vehicles, effective 30 days following Council action, David Van Hatten, 642--1st Ave., is the recreational vehicle's owner. He thanked the CSC for their time, but feels the circumstances which they investigated the issue was less than complete, For instance, his vehicle is not the only vehicle using the boulevard, however, it is the primary one. The paved alley does not benefit his property because a fence, building and hedge would need to be moved in order to build a parking area. He spoke to his neighbors and found none which object to the vehicle parking. Mattila noted that the 1978 Council motion was passed to allow boulevard parking to correct problems caused by student street parking. Three years ago, the City required the garages cleaned to allow parking and presently there is no on-street parking problems. To his knowledge, there is no other situation in the City which boulevard parking is allowed. Mr, Van Hatten feels safety is the biggest factor. In the past, the vehicle was parked in his steep one-car driveway and rolled, crossed the street and damaged several trees. All of this occurred when his daughter was inside the vehicle, His driveway is so steep that it is dangerous to park a vehicle. He and his neighbors have used the area for 35 years to park vehicles and never received complaints. Williams asked if the vehicle could be blocked to prevent it from rolling down the driveway. Mr, Van Hatten said he would need to park the vehicle on the grass alongside the driveway. Williams asked if parking the vehicle in the backyard is impossible. Mr. Van Hatten said it is not impossible, but would be very expensive. Mattila noted that the City requires recreational vehicles be parked on a paved or concrete surface on a driveway or alongside a garage at least 5 feet from a property line, To his knowledge, this is the only exception, anywhere else in the City a vehicle would be tagged if they parked on the boulevard. Larson noted that he recently was given 30 days by the City to find a place to store his business vehicle. He did not have a choice and did rent a facility. Council Business Boulevard Parking 1 st A venue NW Report 92-232